Thrasher denies circumventing FSU presidential search process

The News Service of Florida

Published: Friday, June 6, 2014 at 10:41 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 6, 2014 at 10:41 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE — As Florida State University faculty members say they've "lost confidence" in the presidential search process, powerful Republican Sen. John Thrasher says he's never wanted to be the only candidate for FSU's presidency.

Thrasher, widely considered the front-runner for the job, said Friday he has the skills to boost his alma mater to a national top 25 academic ranking. He also said he would be honored to get the job and denied being engaged in a "nefarious plot" to circumvent the search process.

"In politics, not everyone agrees with you. In this world, where we are now, not everyone is going to agree with you, not everyone is going to like your background," Thrasher said during a telephone interview.

"I'm told when (former FSU president) Sandy (D'Alemberte) applied, there were concerns about him," Thrasher continued. "It's part of the process. In the academic arena people have a different point of view than others, and there is nothing wrong with that."

Thrasher, 70, is an influential figure in state politics. Currently chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, the St. Augustine Republican served as House speaker from 1998 to 2000. Also, he is chairman of Gov. Rick Scott's re-election campaign and previously served as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.

D'Alemberte, a Democrat who served in the state House from 1966 to 1972 and was the university's president from 1994 to 2003, nominated Thrasher for the presidency.

A 1965 graduate of FSU who also later received his law degree from the university, Thrasher has helped funnel millions of dollars in state money to the Tallahassee campus. Among other things, he played a key role in establishing the university's medical school.

Thrasher was expected to have an exclusive interview for the job next week, but that changed Tuesday when FSU trustee Ed Burr, the head of the search committee, announced the process would be reopened because additional applications had been submitted.

Thrasher said he is fine with the change. The search committee will meet Wednesday in Tallahassee.

"I've never wanted to be the only guy out there, where I've been getting the arrows shot at me. I'd love to have some other people involved in it, too," Thrasher said.

Burr's announcement came before the Faculty Senate, in a series of unanimously approved resolutions Wednesday, said it had "lost confidence" in the conduct of search consultant William Funk.

The faculty group also intends to ask the search committee to set a September deadline for applications, hold campus meetings with the short list of candidates and place an emphasis on applicants having strong academic credentials — similar to what the University of Florida board of trustees has added to the requirements in its search for a new president.

Jennifer Proffitt, president of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, said the committee's initial decision to interview just Thrasher further clouded a search that had no prior application deadline.

"The search firm says that they couldn't find qualified candidates, or that qualified candidates wouldn't apply because of Sen. Thrasher," Proffitt said. "So how are they going to negotiate that now? He's still the front-runner."

After the search committee decision May 21 to invite Thrasher for an interview, only three people, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Ricky Polston, state Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, and educational consultant Harold McGinnis, have filed papers asking to be considered for the position. Thrasher had not formally applied before the search committee decision.

Twelve other people asked to be considered before the Thrasher invitation went out, but those individuals have been mostly dismissed by search-committee members as "being lesser qualified candidates" and not a "pool this university deserves."

The search was "paused" at Funk's recommendation, as Thrasher's interest was keeping other potential candidates from wanting to apply, the Dallas-based search consultant said.

Thrasher said he expects he will talk with additional faculty members and students as the process progresses. He said if faculty members believe there are better candidates, they will have a chance now that the process is being reopened.

"If there are people that want to apply, let them apply," Thrasher said. "I'm interested in the job, and I have the right to apply like everyone else."

<p>TALLAHASSEE — As Florida State University faculty members say they've "lost confidence" in the presidential search process, powerful Republican Sen. John Thrasher says he's never wanted to be the only candidate for FSU's presidency.</p><p>Thrasher, widely considered the front-runner for the job, said Friday he has the skills to boost his alma mater to a national top 25 academic ranking. He also said he would be honored to get the job and denied being engaged in a "nefarious plot" to circumvent the search process.</p><p>"In politics, not everyone agrees with you. In this world, where we are now, not everyone is going to agree with you, not everyone is going to like your background," Thrasher said during a telephone interview.</p><p>"I'm told when (former FSU president) Sandy (D'Alemberte) applied, there were concerns about him," Thrasher continued. "It's part of the process. In the academic arena people have a different point of view than others, and there is nothing wrong with that."</p><p>Thrasher, 70, is an influential figure in state politics. Currently chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, the St. Augustine Republican served as House speaker from 1998 to 2000. Also, he is chairman of Gov. Rick Scott's re-election campaign and previously served as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.</p><p>D'Alemberte, a Democrat who served in the state House from 1966 to 1972 and was the university's president from 1994 to 2003, nominated Thrasher for the presidency.</p><p>A 1965 graduate of FSU who also later received his law degree from the university, Thrasher has helped funnel millions of dollars in state money to the Tallahassee campus. Among other things, he played a key role in establishing the university's medical school.</p><p>Thrasher was expected to have an exclusive interview for the job next week, but that changed Tuesday when FSU trustee Ed Burr, the head of the search committee, announced the process would be reopened because additional applications had been submitted.</p><p>Thrasher said he is fine with the change. The search committee will meet Wednesday in Tallahassee.</p><p>"I've never wanted to be the only guy out there, where I've been getting the arrows shot at me. I'd love to have some other people involved in it, too," Thrasher said.</p><p>Burr's announcement came before the Faculty Senate, in a series of unanimously approved resolutions Wednesday, said it had "lost confidence" in the conduct of search consultant William Funk.</p><p>The faculty group also intends to ask the search committee to set a September deadline for applications, hold campus meetings with the short list of candidates and place an emphasis on applicants having strong academic credentials — similar to what the University of Florida board of trustees has added to the requirements in its search for a new president.</p><p>Jennifer Proffitt, president of the FSU chapter of the United Faculty of Florida, said the committee's initial decision to interview just Thrasher further clouded a search that had no prior application deadline.</p><p>"The search firm says that they couldn't find qualified candidates, or that qualified candidates wouldn't apply because of Sen. Thrasher," Proffitt said. "So how are they going to negotiate that now? He's still the front-runner."</p><p>After the search committee decision May 21 to invite Thrasher for an interview, only three people, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Ricky Polston, state Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, and educational consultant Harold McGinnis, have filed papers asking to be considered for the position. Thrasher had not formally applied before the search committee decision.</p><p>Twelve other people asked to be considered before the Thrasher invitation went out, but those individuals have been mostly dismissed by search-committee members as "being lesser qualified candidates" and not a "pool this university deserves."</p><p>The search was "paused" at Funk's recommendation, as Thrasher's interest was keeping other potential candidates from wanting to apply, the Dallas-based search consultant said.</p><p>Thrasher said he expects he will talk with additional faculty members and students as the process progresses. He said if faculty members believe there are better candidates, they will have a chance now that the process is being reopened.</p><p>"If there are people that want to apply, let them apply," Thrasher said. "I'm interested in the job, and I have the right to apply like everyone else."</p>